Unknown - Qur'an - Safaivid - 1580

We offer a single illuminated manuscript folio page from a 16th Century Safaivid Persian Qur'an. The manuscript contains the entire of chapter 91, Ash-Shams (The Sun), together with the final 6 verses in the upper portion of the manuscript, of chapter 90, Al-Balad (The City). Ash-Shams is a Meccan surah focusing on the purification of the human soul and the consequences of good and evil, emphasizing that success comes through righteousness while corruption leads to failure. It opens with intense oaths by natural phenomena—the sun, moon, day, night, sky, and earth—highlighting God's power and creation. The Surah serves as an instructive guide on human psychology and morality, asserting that man is responsible for his own fate based on his choices and actions. The final verses of Al-Balad describe the "steep path" of righteousness and contrast the ultimate fates of those who follow it versus those who reject faith

The decorative Surah heading is framed within a solid green frame. The script within the heading is in white Thuluth set in gold, bookended by arabesque designs typical of the time. Simple gold aya mark out the verses. A decorative marginal jus marks the 10th verse of chapter 91.

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